GHRI Answers: The 9 Most Common Questions

You asked and we answered! Here, top advice from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute experts

Q: Help! How do I remove chewing gum from the seat of a pair of pants?

A: Freeze it! Put the pants (this also works for a shirt or skirt) into a large plastic bag and place in the freezer for about 10 minutes, or fill a resealable plastic bag with ice cubes and place it on top of the gum patch. The cold will harden the sticky stuff and make it brittle, at which point you should be able to gently pry it off using your fingers or a dull knife. Dissolve any remaining small bits with a dry-cleaning solvent, like Guardsman Professional Dry Cleaning Fluid ($6.49, amazon.com). If the clothing is machine-washable, apply a laundry pretreater and wash it in the hottest water that’s safe per the care label.
-Carolyn Forte, Home Appliances, Cleaning Products & Textiles Director

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